NORTHFIELD, Vt.—Host #10/13 Norwich University used a four-goal, second-period outburst to defeat #8/10 UMass Boston men's hockey 6-2 Friday evening at Kreitzberg Arena.

THE BASICS

#10/13 Norwich University 6, #8/10 UMass Boston 2

(UMass Boston 5-3-1, NEHC 2-3)

(Norwich University 8-1-1, NEHC 5-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a scoreless first period in which the Beacons held a slight edge, the Cadets scored three special-teams goals and found the back of the net four times total in the second stanza.

Senior Paul Russell and junior Kevin Salvucci scored two goals apiece for the hosts, who improved to 3-0-1 on the season at home. Todd Jackson and Anthony Flaherty tacked on the final two goals for the Cadets.

In net, junior goalie Braeden Ostepchuk stopped a season-high 32 shots to improve to 5-0-0 on the season.

Senior Albee Daley (Averill Park, N.Y.) and Ryan Cusin (Detroit, Mich.) both scored in the third period for the Beacons. Junior Colin Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) was credited with a pair of assists, while defensemen Tyler Bishop (Ramsey, N.J.) and Dante Suffredini (Detroit, Mich.) added an assist apiece.

Freshman netminder Jordan Bustard (Flanders, N.J.) allowed five goals on 27 shots.

UMass Boston had the better looks in the first period, but headed into the first intermission tied 0-0.

The Cadets would make them pay, as Norwich scored four goals in the opening 16 minutes of the second stanza.

Salvucci scored on the power-play 13 seconds into the period and Russell tacked on a short-handed tally at 5:18. The Cadets would score two more quick goals in succession later on, as Jackson (11:38) and Salvucci (15:31) found the back of the net within four minutes of each other.

The Beacons came out roaring to start the third period and put a scare into the hosts. After Norwich was called for a penalty at 3:06, UMass Boston scored on the ensuing face-off. Larkin won the face-off back to Bishop and Bishop's hard shot was deflected home in front by Daley.

Just over four minutes later, the Beacons cut the deficit in half. Larkin brought the puck into the zone on the near side and skated through three players, before his centering feed to the far circle found Cusin, who rocketed a slap shot off Ostepchuk's glove and in at 7:27.

Cusin nearly made it a one-goal at 10:14, but his shot went off the crossbar to keep the deficit at 4-2. 

Norwich finally stemmed the tide at 14:41. With the Beacons pressing for a goal and the game wide open, the Cadets took advantage of a 2-on-1 rush. After a Tyler Sifferlen (North Andover, Mass.) chance in close was denied, the Cadets went the other way, with Flaherty using a screen in front of Bustard to beat the goalie.

Russell put the game away at 18:52, as the senior scored an empty-net goal to push the lead back to four.

BY THE NUMBERS

• UMass Boston outshot the Cadets 34-28, but Norwich held a 34-31 edge in face offs.
• The Beacons went 1-for-4 on the power-play, while Norwich finished 2-for-4 with a short-handed goal.
• Norwich earned their eight-straight win at Kreitzberg Arena over the Beacons, to improve to 39-10 all-time against UMass Boston. During the winning streak, the Beacons have gone 4-2 against Norwich in Boston.
• Bishop has now recorded a point in 11-consecutive games, dating back to last season. Prior to this year, the senior defenseman had never posted a stretch of more than five consecutive games with at least one point.

WHO'S NEXT 

#8/10 UMass Boston will look to salvage the weekend on Saturday, when they take on Saint Michael's College at 4 p.m. The Purple Knights upset #12/12 Babson College 4-2 on Friday night.